Grip for a golf club

ABSTRACT

A grip for a golf club includes a unitary inner layer tube with a butt cap and a tip ring, made of a resilient polymeric material, and adapted to be disposed around one end of the golf club. An outer layer is disposed around and is adhered to the inner layer tube, and includes a flexible sheet member having two opposite longitudinal ends along an axial direction of the inner layer tube. The sheet member is adhered to the inner layer tube by wrapping the sheet member, in a flat form, around the inner layer tube solely along a circumferential direction relative to an axis of the inner layer tube until one of the longitudinal ends reaches the other one of the longitudinal ends between the butt cap and the tip ring of the inner layer tube. The outer layer includes a plurality of anti-slip stitches thereon.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims priority of Taiwanese Patent ApplicationNo. 091206941, filed on May 15, 2002.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The invention relates to a grip for a golf club, moreparticularly to a layered composite grip having an anti-slip outer layerwith stitches so as to provide the comfortable feel of a singlewhole-sheet fabric, leather, or leather-like material, an anti-slipeffect, and better hem finishing.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Conventional molded golf grips can be classified into four maintypes, namely, buffed rubber, unbuffed rubber, cord and plastic grips.The buffed rubber grip has a broken, scaly and porous surface tosimulate the feel of leather. The unbuffed rubber grip has an unbrokensmooth surface and is made to simulate the look of leather. The cordgrip is a combination of the scaly surface of the buffed rubber grip andthe cotton fibers of woven fabric. The plastic grip has a surfaceresembling the unbroken surface of the unbuffed rubber grip. On thewhole, golfers prefer grips with the feel and appearance of fabric andleather.

[0006] Other conventional grips are of the strip type. In the striptype, a strip of natural leather or polyurethane-coated syntheticleather is wrapped spirally around an underlying tube or a shaft of agolf club. This type of grip suffers from the drawbacks thatinstallation is difficult and that the strip tends to unravel throughuse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] Therefore, the main object of the present invention is to providea layered composite grip for a golf club which has an outer layer formedfrom a single sheet of leather, synthetic leather or fabric, and havingstitches thereon so as to provide a new surface texture.

[0008] Another object of the present invention is to provide a layeredcomposite grip for a golf club which provides the comfortable feel of asingle whole-sheet fabric, leather or leather-like material, ananti-slip effect, and better hem finishing.

[0009] A further object of the present invention is to provide a layeredcomposite grip for a golf club which has an outer layer formed from aplurality of sheets of different materials and provided with differentstitch patterns so as to enhance the appearance of the grip and providegreater flexibility in the design of the grip.

[0010] Accordingly, a layered composite grip for a golf club of theinvention includes a unitary inner layer tube and an outer layer. Theinner layer tube is formed with a butt cap and a tip ring, is made of aresilient polymeric material, and is adapted to be disposed around oneend of the golf club. The outer layer is disposed around and is adheredto the inner layer tube. The outer layer includes a flexible sheetmember having two opposite longitudinal ends along an axial direction ofthe inner layer tube, and two opposite transverse ends extending betweenthe longitudinal ends. The sheet member is adhered to the inner layertube by using a cementing material and by wrapping the sheet member, ina flat form, around the inner layer tube solely along a circumferentialdirection relative to an axis of the inner layer tube until one of thelongitudinal ends reaches the other one of the longitudinal ends betweenthe butt cap and the tip ring of the inner layer tube. The outer layerincludes a plurality of anti-slip stitches thereon for purposes of hemfinishing, enhanced appearance, and interconnection.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Other features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent in the following detailed description of the preferredembodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the first preferred embodiment ofa layered composite grip for a golf club according to the presentinvention when installed on a shaft of a golf club that is shown inpart;

[0013]FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the first preferredembodiment taken along line A-A of FIG. 1;

[0014]FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an outer layer of the firstpreferred embodiment;

[0015]FIG. 2A is a schematic view showing an inner layer tube of thefirst preferred embodiment;

[0016]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a modified form of the firstpreferred embodiment;

[0017]FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form ofthe first preferred embodiment;

[0018]FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a modified form of the outer layerof the first preferred embodiment;

[0019]FIG. 6 is a schematic view of another modified form of the outerlayer of the first preferred embodiment;

[0020]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second preferred embodiment ofa layered composite grip for a golf club according to the presentinvention when installed on a shaft of a golf club that is shown inpart;

[0021]FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of thesecond preferred embodiment;

[0022]FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of another modified form ofthe second preferred embodiment;

[0023]FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a modified outer layer of thesecond preferred embodiment; and

[0024]FIG. 11 is a schematic view of another modified outer layer of thesecond preferred embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Before the present invention is described in greater detail, itshould be noted that like elements are denoted by the same referencenumerals throughout the disclosure.

[0026] Referring to FIGS. 1, 1A, 2 and 2A, the first preferredembodiment of a layered composite grip 1 for a golf club according tothe present invention is shown to include an inner layer tube 3 and anouter layer 4. The inner layer tube 3 is disposed around one end of ashaft 20 of the golf club adjacent to a butt end thereof. In thisembodiment, the inner layer tube 3 has an inner surface 30 adhered tothe shaft 20 using a double-sided adhesive tape 21 and a solvent. Theinner layer tube 3 is a unitary molded body with a butt cap 33 at thetop and a tip ring 34 at the bottom, and is made of a resilientpolymeric material, such as a rubber material or an elastomer. Examplesof the resilient polymeric material include natural rubber, rubbercomposites, thermoplastic rubber (TPR), thermoplastic elastomers (TPE),and polyurethane (PU). The inner layer tube 3 may be a molded or milledfoam body, such as a close-celled foam.

[0027] The outer layer 4 is disposed around and is cohesively bonded toan outer surface 31 of the inner layer tube 3 using a cementing material6, such as chloroprene rubber, resin, etc. The outer layer 4 includes asingle flexible sheet member formed from a material selected from thegroup consisting of natural and synthetic leathers, PU coated leather,and fabric materials, and having two opposite longitudinal ends 4 aalong an axial direction of the golf club, and two opposite transverseends 4 b extending between the longitudinal ends 4 a. The outer layer 4further has an outermost surface 40 and an inner surface 41 opposite tothe outermost surface 40. It is noted that the outer layer 4 has asurface area substantially equivalent to that of the inner layer tube 3between the butt cap 33 and the tip ring 34. The outer layer 4 includesa plurality of anti-slip stitches 5 thereon. The anti-slip stitches 5 inthis embodiment include transverse stitch lines 51 extending along thetransverse ends 4 b, and longitudinal stitch lines 52 extending alongthe longitudinal ends 4 a. The anti-slip stitches 5 further include aplurality of zigzag stitch lines 53 intersecting each other andextending across the outermost surface 40 so as to further reduceslippage and to form a desired decorative pattern on the outermostsurface 40.

[0028] Referring further to FIGS. 3 and 4, in alternative forms, theanti-slip stitches 5 include multi-thread embroidery stitches 50, 50′formed by single thread stitching or multiple thread stitching. Thestitches 50′ are pick stitches that extend into the outer layer 4 to alevel shallower than that of the stitches 50. The anti-slip stitches 5can be made by hand sewing or machine sewing using threads of cotton,polyester, rayon, nylon or other suitable materials. The threads can betreated in a conventional manner to resist water, abrasion, mildew,perspiration stains, and ultraviolet rays, and to strengthen elasticitythereof, thereby enhancing the anti-slip characteristic of the outerlayer 4 and the adaptability of the outer layer 4 to outdoorenvironments.

[0029] During manufacture of the grip 1, the anti-slip stitches 5 can beformed on the outer layer 4 before or after the outer layer 4 iscohesively bonded to the inner layer tube 3 depending on the stitchingmethods used to form the anti-slip stitches 5. In this embodiment, theanti-slip stitches 5 are formed on the outer layer 4 prior to bondingthe outer layer 4 to the inner layer tube 3. It is noted that the outerlayer 4 is cohesively bonded to the inner layer tube 3 by cementing andby wrapping the outer layer 4, in a flat form, around the inner layertube 3 solely along a circumferential direction relative to the shaft 20of the golf club until one of the longitudinal ends 4 a reaches theother one of the longitudinal ends 4 a between the butt cap 33 and thetip ring 34 of the inner layer tube 3.

[0030] Alternatively, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, the outer layer 4 canbe formed by two or more sheet segments 42. The anti-slip stitches 5include one or more stitch lines 54 provided between and interconnectingadjacent sheet segments 42 such that one or more seams 7 are formedbetween adjacent sheet segments 42 and extend from one of the transverseends 4 b to the other one of the transverse ends 4 b. In thisembodiment, the stitch lines 54 are zigzag stitch lines, and can includeelastic stitches, link stitches and the like.

[0031] In the present invention, the arrangement of the anti-slipstitches 5 provides various advantages in addition to contributing tothe single-sheet fabric, leather or leather-like feel and anti-slipcharacteristic of the grip 1. For instance, the transverse andlongitudinal stitch lines 51, 52, which are provided along the edges ofthe outer layer 4, serve to trim, hem-finish, and prevent fraying of theedges of the sheet material. The intersecting stitch lines 53, which canbe in any desirable form of stitches, can be used to form decorativestitch patterns on the outer layer 4. The stitch lines 54 permit joiningof sheet segments 42 of the same or different materials to give a newappearance and texture to the grip 1 and to enhance the comfortable feelof the grip 1. In addition, different forms of stitches, such as featherstitches and scallop stitches, can be used to form the transverse andlongitudinal stitch lines 51, 52 along the transverse and longitudinalends 4 b, 4 a of the sheet member of the outer layer 4 to furtherenhance the single-sheet fabric, leather, or leather-like comfortablefeel of the outer layer 4 and the anti-slip characteristic of the outerlayer 4, and to improve traction.

[0032]FIG. 7 illustrates the second preferred embodiment of the grip 1of the present invention. This embodiment differs from the previousembodiment mainly in that the outer layer 4 of the grip 1 furtherincludes a plurality of ventilation elements 43 formed in the outerlayer 4. The ventilation elements 43 can be formed by cutting, embossingor hot pressing the flexible sheet material of the outer layer 4, andcan be in the form of holes and/or grooves. With reference to FIGS. 8and 9, which show modified forms of the second preferred embodiment, theventilation elements 43 include through holes 431 extending through theoutermost surface 40 and the inner surface 41, and blind holes 432extending solely through the outermost surface 40. The through holes 431and the blind holes 432 can have varying widths, depths and shapes, andare formed in the outer layer 4 by cutting or hot pressing prior tobonding the outer layer 4 to the inner layer tube 3. The ventilationelements 43 further include reticulating grooves 434 formed by hotpressing the outer layer 4 to create any desirable design, orreticulating grooves 434 with pores 433 formed by embossing the outerlayer 4 to resemble the grain of an animal skin or hide, as shown inFIG. 11. Preferably, the outer layer 4 in this embodiment is formed froman air-permeable material 44 with capillary holes (see FIG. 8), such asnatural leather or a porous material 45 coated with a polyurethanemembrane 46 (see FIG. 9) such that, with the provision of theventilation elements 43, the outer layer 4 has a substantially spongystructure. The spongy structure permits squeezing of the outer layer 4to help remove water that are channeled into the ventilation elements 43when the grip 1 becomes wet from perspiration or when the golfer playsin the rain, thereby facilitating quick drying of the outer layer 4. Inaddition, the ventilation elements 43 on the outer layer 4 create arelatively rugged surface on the outer layer 4 to further improvetraction and reduce slippage. The ventilation elements 43 can bearranged in floral patterns for embellishment purposes, as shown in FIG.10.

[0033] In sum, the present invention has the following advantages:

[0034] 1. As the outer layer includes the anti-slip stitch lines and theventilation elements, the grip of this invention has the comfortablefeel of fabric, leather, and leather-like material, a good anti-slipeffect, and provides better traction and better hem finishing.

[0035] 2. As the outer layer is made of a flexible sheet material,pieces of different materials can be joined together by stitch lines toform an integral outer layer. Besides, different stitch patterns can beformed on the outer layer to provide a variety of visual effects.

[0036] 3. Given the above, there is greater flexibility in themanufacture and design of grips for golf clubs.

[0037] While the present invention has been described in connection withwhat is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isunderstood that this invention is not limited to the disclosedembodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements includedwithin the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

I claim:
 1. A layered composite grip for a golf club, comprising: aunitary inner layer tube with a butt cap and a tip ring, made of aresilient polymeric material, and adapted to be disposed around one endof the golf club; and an outer layer disposed around and adhered to saidinner layer tube, said outer layer including a flexible sheet memberhaving two opposite longitudinal ends along an axial direction of saidinner layer tube, and two opposite transverse ends extending betweensaid longitudinal ends, said sheet member being adhered to said innerlayer tube by using a cementing material and by wrapping said sheetmember, in a flat form, around said inner layer tube solely along acircumferential direction relative to an axis of said inner layer tubeuntil one of said longitudinal ends reaches the other one of saidlongitudinal ends between said butt cap and said tip ring of said innerlayer tube, said outer layer including a plurality of anti-slip stitchesthereon.
 2. The grip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said resilientpolymeric material is selected from a group consisting of rubbers andelastomers, said inner layer tube being a molded body.
 3. The grip asclaimed in claim 2, wherein said molded body is a close-celled foam. 4.The grip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flexible sheet member ismade of a material which is selected from a group consisting of naturalleathers, synthetic leathers, polyurethane-coated material, and fabricmaterials.
 5. The grip as claimed in claim 1, wherein said anti-slipstitches include embroidery stitches.
 6. The grip as claimed in claim 1,wherein said sheet member includes a plurality of sheet segments whichare connected to each other, and at least one seam between said sheetsegments, said anti-slip stitches being disposed along said seam.
 7. Thegrip as claimed in claim 6, wherein said seam extends from one of saidtransverse ends to the other one of said transverse ends.
 8. The grip asclaimed in claim 1, wherein said anti-slip stitches include a pluralityof stitch lines intersecting each other.
 9. The grip as claimed in claim1, wherein said outer layer further includes a plurality of ventilationelements formed therein.
 10. The grip as claimed in claim 9, whereinsaid ventilation elements are formed by embossing said sheet member. 11.The grip as claimed in claim 9, wherein said ventilation elements areformed by cutting said sheet member.
 12. The grip as claimed in claim 9,wherein said ventilation elements are formed by hot pressing said sheetmember.
 13. The grip as claimed in claim 9, wherein said outer layer hasan outermost surface and an inner surface opposite to said outermostsurface, said ventilation elements including through holes extendingthrough said outermost surface and said inner surface.
 14. The grip asclaimed in claim 13, wherein said ventilation elements further includeblind holes extending solely through said outermost surface.
 15. Thegrip as claimed in claim 9, wherein said outer layer has an outermostsurface and an inner surface opposite to said outermost surface, saidventilation elements including grooves extending in said outermostsurface.